Know about Nikki Bonsai Garden in Kanyakumari

Nikki Bonsai Garden is the largest of its kind in India with a world-class selection of rare and popular species. It is the fulfillment of more than 40 years of passion and dedication of a single individual. Nikki Bonsai have the largest individual collection of bonsais in the country.

What is Bonsai ?

Bonsai is a Japanese art form using trees grown in containers.

Highlights of Nikki Bonsai Garden:

The garden consists of three areas – the main bonsai garden, the orchid garden and the upcoming Penjing Garden.

The main Bonsai garden is set in a Japanese style and features plants in every possible style of Bonsai -both traditional and a few developed by Ravindran himself. Besides hundreds of Ficus trees in various species, the garden also has Adeniums, Boababs, Tamarinds, Bougainvillea and the Tropical Pine or Australian Pine (Casuarina equistifolia). The collection of Casuarinas is unique.

Why unique? Because this is the only place where you can see almost all the styles of bonsai exhibited in a single species.

Another highlight of the garden is of course the Grand Ol’ Banyan tree, Ravindran’s first bonsai. This was part of a wild collection from the hills near his hometown Nagercoil and has been with him for the last 43 years. When it was collected, its age was estimated to be around 10 years, making this tree more than fifty years old – probably older than most people who visit the Garden. A venerable tree you could say!

Also on the cards is the plan for a Zen Garden, a spot of tranquility where you can rest, meditate, rejuvenate yourself or ponder upon the endless secrets of the Universe!

On October 14 2013, this Garden opened its doors to the public. Situated right next to the historic Padmanabhapuram Palace, the former seat of the erstwhile Kanyakumari , the Garden is easily accessible by road and rail. The nearest airport is in Thiruvananthapuram about 50 kms away.

A novel kind of attraction, Nikki Bonsai Garden is bound to join the list of must visit spots for anyone traveling to South Kerala or South Tamilnadu. Actually, it is worth making a trip down south, just to see this Garden.